The number of children in Japan fell for the 37th consecutive year to yet another record low.

The ratio of children to the overall population dipped to a record low of 12.3 percent, down for the 44th straight year.
Among 32 countries with a population of 40 million or more, Japan had the lowest ratio, outpacing Germany at 13.2 percent and South Korea at 13.1 percent.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe pledged to rectify the nationâ€™s shrinking and rapidly graying population by taking measures to empower women and beef up support for child-rearing by increasing day-care facilities, but his efforts have yet to bear fruit.

But it seems that this dilemma isn't limited to Japan.
Although world population is projected to continue to grow, reaching an estimated 8.6 billion in 2030, many European countries are also facing continued declines in birthrates.